Improvement in blanks for bank-checks



ZSheets-Sheet 1v F. W. BROOKS. Blanks for Bank-Cheeks. No. 202,515. Patented April I6, 1878.

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NJETERS. PHOTO-UTHCGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D C.

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P.- W.V BROOKS. Blanks for Bank-Checks,-

I f L lllllllllll l I i I N @ig NPTERS, PHOTO L.\THOGRAPHER ASH NGTON D C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

, FRANKLIN W. BROOKS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO EDWARD J.

' BROOKS, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN BLANKS FOR BANK-CHCKS.

Spccication forming part of Letters Patent No. 202,515, dated Aprill, 17878; application filed September 4, 1877.

To all whom 'it may concern:

, Be it known that I, FRANKLIN W. BRooKs, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Blanks for Bank-Checks and other evidences of value, of which the following is a specification:

In Letters Patent No. 193,221, granted to me on the 17th of July, 1877 ,I have described a mode of preventing the forgery or alteration of bank-checks and other commercial paper by the use of concealed detective numbers, which, on the presentation of the checks for payment, are exposed by the payer and compared with corresponding numbers in his possession, so as to prove the genuineness of the checks. f v My present invention consists, first, in the manufacture of paper for bank-checks, drafts, bonds, notes, and other, evidences of value by the application, between two thicknesses of the paper, in course of manufacture, of one Vor more distinguishing characters, which thus tamper with it by the alteration of any matter printed or written upon it, said chemical preparation serving also as an additional protection against the discovery of the concealed mark, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a View of a sheet of paper-pulp, with distinguishing characters applied to its face, in readiness to be covered by another sheet of pulp, preparatory to the calendering of the two together in one sheet, with the distinguishing characters incorporated and concealed. Figs. 2, 3, and 32"' are views, under different modications, of connected tabs carrying corresponding detective numbers or other characters, as made for introduction between two thicknesses of paper. Fig. 4 represents the combined paper sheet, the locations of the detective numbers or other characters being indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 5 is aview of a completed check-blank, the locations of the detective numbers or other characters being indicatedin dotted lines, as before. Fig. 6 is a view of a check-blank, illustrating modifications in the application of the invention.

The illustrative check-blank B, Fig. 5, has two coupons, G1 O2, and is provided With two pairs of detective numbers, b1 b2, or any suitable distinguishing 1narks,which, in this il' lustration and in the mode of 'applyin g the invention now referred to, are paired as represented, the detective number yor mark b* at one end of the check corresponding with that in the adjacent coupon Ol, while the detective number or mark b2 at the other end of the check corresponds with that in the coupon C2 adjacent thereto. The ordinary or serialnumber c of each check is carried out on both coupons, so as to associate each check with its respective coupons Cl O2. In this illustration of the invention' the paired detective marks are connected by tapes or strings D, (see Figs. 1, 2, 3,' and 3%) and so remain until the checkblank or completed check, as the case maybe, is severed, first, from the-blank coupon C2, for delivery in blank to the owner and maker of the check; and, secondly, from the check-coupon Ol in the ordinary manner when the check is delivered. Y

The tabs or slips for application within the bodyof the paper are prepared in advance. This may be done by children or other cheap labor. They are preferably made each in double or folded form, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, connected by two tapesl or strings. Any number of these connected tabs are supplied to the paper-makerfor use, as described. He takes them as they come, without even seeing the distinctive characters. The connecting tapes or strings insure their being correctly paired, so that the only care required is to locate them properly near the ends of the paper slip, so that one tab may occupy the desired place in the check and its fellow in the vadjacent coupon.

1lFig. 3f shows a simpler mode of making the ta s. of a single unfolded piece, and are connected in pairs by a single string or tape, the mode of using them being the same. These tapes or strings D, extending across the lines at which the check-blank or check is parted from its respective coupon, constitute a ready means of tearing off the portion of the paper concealing the detective number, so that the latter may be exposed to view, The paper covering the detective number can thus be torn from the check forward or backward. By tearing it out at back any injury to the face of the check is avoided.

The way of using the check-blank with the detective numbered or marked coupons is as follows The checks and attached coupons are correspondingly and serially numbered before being issued in blank from the bank. They are then severed from the bank-coupon O2, and the latter is retained by the bank as a means-of determining the genuineness of the checks that may be presented. The owner and drawer of the checks separates them from their coupons 01, as they are made in the usual manner. The detective numbers or other characters in said coupons form an infallible indication of' the genuineness or otherwise of any check at any time that it may be questioned.

The modification of the invention shown in Fig. 6 illustrates a simpler inode of' applying the invention. In this case the detective mark or number is made directly on the surface of the bank-coupons C2, the corresponding number bei-ng concealed in the check, in the manner hereinbefore described, as indicated by dotted lines at b in Fig. 6. This way of using the detective number or mark is considered safe and effective, as the paper-maker would have to ascertain whose checks the paper will be used for, and what serial number will be applied to each particular check, in order to avail himself or others of his information, and, the detective number being known, this, with all the other features ofthe individual sheet of paper, would still require successful duplication.

E, in the various figures, represents an eX- ternal mark, of any suitable kind, printed over the place Where the detective mark or number is concealed, so as to render the paper more opaque at this point, and ai'ord additional security against the discovery of the mark or number by looking through the-paper at the light.

As an additional means of security against tampering with the check or other article of value, the paper is manufactured with a fugi- In this illustration they are made eachti-ve color in any of the modes in common use, so that the application of moisture or chemicals for lthe purpose of altering any marks upon the check, or for the rendering ofthe paper transparent, or for removing a part of its body, in order to expose the detective mark or number, will be infallibly detected. Theman ufacture of the blanks on colored paper, as an additional feature of value in connection with the use of concealed detective marks or numbers, is very important, in that the hue of the paper renders it more opaque, and prevents the observation of the concealed detective number, which may be `on white paper and incorporated in the body of the check-paper, as desired.

The invention is of value for the manufacture of paper for bank-checks, drafts, notes, bonds, and other evidences of value, and for various legal documents,such as deeds, wills, powers of attorney, and the like.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. As a new article of manufacture, a sheet ot' paper having one or more detective numbers or other distinguishing characters in closed within the bodythereof, and provided with corresponding identifying numbers or characters, said detective and identifyingn umbers or characters being so located as to occupy suitable positions, respectively, within the check or other instrument for which the paper may be used, and within o1' upon a coupon or coupons thereof, substantially as herein shown and described, or the purpose set forth.

2. A blank for a bank-check or other evidence of value the paper of which is provided, in the course of its manufacture, with one or more detective numbers or other distinguishing characters incorporated within the body ofthe paper and concealed from view by means of any design printed on the blank opposite the place where the distinguishing character is applied, substantially as hereinbefore described, the same to be exposed by tearing open the paper when the occasion arrives.

3. A blank for checks or other evidences of value containing one or more distinguishing numbers or other characters incorporated with- 'in its body in the process ofrnanufacturing the paper, and concealed from view by a suitable design printed on the blank opposite the place where the distinguishing-mark is applied, said paper being also coated or impregnated with chemical or coloring matter of such a character as to change on the application of chemicals or moisture.

FRANKLIN W. BROOKS. Witnesses:

Oc'rnvrUs KNIGHT, A. H. GALT. 

